Posted on Jul 31, 2005 in Cookery Books, Read | 2 comments

The Cook’s Companion by Stephanie Alexander ****

The Cook’s Companion by Stephanie Alexander ****
This distinctive book – its size and multi-coloured stripes will ensure that you won’t mislay it in your kitchen – is a veritable tome but it is surprisingly readable. It sat on my coffee table for a month, chapters to be digested along with meals, and it has so many post-its hanging out...
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Posted on Jul 28, 2005 in Bake | 8 comments

Winter breakfasts: Porridge

Winter breakfasts: Porridge
It’s been years since I ate porridge regularly for breakfast. Lumpy and overboiled, it was always a one of the foods that I hated as a child – unless it was made in the Aga at Oldcastletown by my grandfather. Put into the bottom oven the previous night, his porridge was one of the highlights if...
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Posted on Jul 26, 2005 in Bake | 7 comments

Traditional scones – but with a twist: Date Scones

Traditional scones – but with a twist: Date Scones
My mother makes the best scones. There’s always a carton of cream souring in the fridge to add lightness to the eventual product, which, when I come home, are often piled high on the wire rack to cool, large, golden and flecked with sultanas. They’re the kind of scones that you can’t...
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Posted on Jul 23, 2005 in Cookery Books, Read | 3 comments

Take 6 Ingredients by Conrad Gallagher ***

Take 6 Ingredients by Conrad Gallagher ***
Michelin-starred Irish chef Conrad Gallagher sets out the ethos of this book in the introduction. Each recipe is to contain just six ingredients – not counting salt (Maldon Sea Salt), pepper (freshly ground) and best quality olive oil. Gallagher always has been a curious mixture of the inspired (his...
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Posted on Jul 21, 2005 in Living in New Zealand, Storecupboard Specials | 2 comments

Too many lemons? Preserved Lemons

Too many lemons? Preserved Lemons
Enjoying Moroccan food as much as I do, I am a big fan of preserved lemons. Years ago, when I was living in a flat in Dublin, I made a jar of preserved lemons which I didn’t have the nerve to use. So they just sat there and sat there on top of the cupboard looking like, as one visitor put it,...
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Posted on Jul 18, 2005 in Do | 0 comments

Iron Chef America

Iron Chef America
Not having a television means that my perusal of cooking programmes is, to say the least, limited. But at least I can find out about them on the internet and the playful online adverts for Iron Chef America – which include a yodeling catfish – certainly make me want to see this series although...
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Posted on Jul 17, 2005 in Food for Friends | 2 comments

The glory of lamb shanks: Braised Lamb Shanks with Chickpea Mash

One of the nicest meals out that I ever had with my family occurred in a small, unpromising, cellar-type Italian restaurant on the Douglas promenade in the Isle of Man about five years ago. We were on a family holiday and, when the ages of the family members range from my Granny, still sprightly in her...
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Posted on Jul 15, 2005 in Eating Out, Living in New Zealand | 3 comments

Wandering in New Zealand

Wandering in New Zealand
Those of you who are regular readers may have noticed that it’s been quiet on Bibliocook over the last week or so. The reason for this is because I have recently returned from a road trip up the East Coast of New Zealand’s South Island with my mother and aunt who were visiting from...
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Posted on Jul 13, 2005 in Do, Living in New Zealand | 0 comments

Newsflash: Marigold Swiss Vegetable Bouillon Powder available in NZ!

I have just been informed that Marigold Swiss Vegetable Bouillon Powder is actually available in New Zealand. As you may have noticed from past posts, it was my stock powder of choice in Ireland and I have been moaning about its lack of availability over here! In Ireland it is available in both supermarkets...
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Posted on Jul 10, 2005 in Eating Out, Living in New Zealand | 0 comments

Brew Moon Brewery and Café

When you’re driving the long distances that are necessary to get anywhere in New Zealand, good quality rest stops, with coffee, cakes – and clean toilets – become very important. That’s why it breaks my heart to discover one so close to my current hometown of Christchurch. I’ve...
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Posted on Jul 7, 2005 in Do, Living in New Zealand | 2 comments

The loss of the lemon tree

The loss of the lemon tree
Having thought that there wasn’t too much different between the New Zealand and Irish climates, I’ve been amazed to discover that lemon trees grow here. And, what’s more, they actually fruit too! While living with the Boyfriend’s parents in Nelson it was a great treat to go out and...
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Posted on Jul 5, 2005 in Read | 0 comments

Irish Cooking: Over 100 Traditional Recipes by Clare Connery ****

Irish Cooking: Over 100 Traditional Recipes by Clare Connery ****
As the perfect birthday present for a person on the other side of the world to Ireland, Clare Connery’s Irish Cooking comes pretty close. There’s nothing new about this cookbook – nor does there need to be. With an introduction that brings the writings of Maura Laverty to mind, Connery...
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Posted on Jul 2, 2005 in Do, Living in New Zealand | 0 comments

Vegetarian cookery – not just for vegies!

I spent Wednesday night last week at a cookery demonstration by the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Vegetarian Society. No, I’m not going over to the dark side – I love meat too much – but their description of the evening intrigued me. Vegetarian Cuisine for the Non-Vegetarian sounds...
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